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China's space programme

China's space programme
The China National Space Administration was founded more than 25 years ago and is overseeing an ambitious programme which includes deep space exploration, a manned space station, and cutting-edge advancements in technology, new materials, robotics and artificial intelligence.
A CCTV report on January 9 quotes an expert who says concept “space-sky integrated” fighter jets in China’s sci-fi Nantianmen Project will eventually become reality. Photo: CCTV
China's military weapons

Chinese state media repositions sci-fi space, air combat aircraft as tech target

Military analyst on CCTV says frontier technologies reflect ‘expectations for future aerospace and space superiority’.

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Science

China applies to put up 200,000 satellites after calling Starlink a crash risk

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Science

Why Chinese space station is studying how gravity affects battery performance

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Science

SpaceX will move 4,400 satellites to a lower orbit after China cited safety risk

Starlink’s Michael Nicolls declares ‘significant reconfiguration’ to be coordinated with regulators, other operators and US Space Command.

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Starlink says taking its satellites to a lower orbit this year will allow a more than 80 per cent cut to ballistic decay time. Photo: TNS
Science

China warns satellites from Elon Musk’s Starlink are ‘safety and security’ risk

Beijing tells UN meeting of near misses involving SpaceX satellites and warns they are being used by criminals and terrorists.

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China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Beijing extends Mars mission lead; stranded crew returns: China’s year in space

From the US-China race to bring rocks back from Mars to a ‘tit-for-tat’ orbital stand-off, here are some of the year’s most notable space stories.

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Science

Second reusable rocket recovery failure in a month puts China 10 years behind US

Chinese state-owned and commercial developers are racing to catch up on a decade of the technology’s deployment.

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China’s Long March 12A, the country’s first state-owned reusable rocket, has failed on its debut launch on Tuesday morning. Photo: Weibo
Donald Trump

Trump’s space plan envisages US moon base amid race with China

Trump calls for moon landing in 2028, lunar base thereafter, as China targets the end of the decade for its first crewed landing.

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China Future Tech briefing

Aerospace | Lunar race pits China against US as humans seek return to moon

China and the US are vying to put people on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years in a contest that is as much about economics and geopolitics as it is about technology.

United States

Musk ally Isaacman confirmed as Nasa chief amid moon race with China

The US billionaire with a passion for space, was nominated by Trump for a second time after a previous bid fell through.

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Jared Isaacman speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill on December 3. Photo: AP
Aerospace: Policy

China launches satellite ‘super factory’ in bid to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink

The facility features a ‘factory-to-launch’ pipeline, expected to make it faster and cheaper to build low Earth orbit constellations.

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China’s first comprehensive factory dedicated to the assembly, testing and reuse of carrier rockets, in south China’s coastal city of Wenchang. Photo: People’s Daily
US-China relations

Trump’s Nasa pick vows US will beat China back to the moon

Isaacman says Washington must move quickly to stay ahead of Beijing amid intensifying rivalry in space exploration.

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties

Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

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Aerospace: Industry Trends

Explainer | Why China’s space sector is grabbing attention – including from Elon Musk

Chinese start-up LandSpace is set to launch its first reusable rocket on Saturday. If it succeeds, it will give China’s space sector a major boost.

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The Zhuque-3 rocket completes a launch test at a site in China’s northwestern Gansu province last year. The device is one of several reusable rockets under development in China. Photo: Getty Images
Science

China’s first emergency space launch: vessel with repair kit reaches Tiangong

Shenzhou-22’s arrival at the Tiangong station will come as a relief for the crew after another return ship was damaged by space debris.

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A Long March-2F rocket carrying the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft takes off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s northwestern Gansu province on November 25. Photo: via Reuters
International Space Station (ISS)

Editorial | US and China should cooperate to make space safe for all

Space safety is one area where Chinese, Americans and everyone else can benefit from coordination and the sharing of information and costs.

Science

First Thai king to Beijing in 800 years greeted by Chinese astronauts in orbit

Thailand’s monarchs in exchange with orbiting crew on board Tiangong station during visit to highly restricted mission control centre in Beijing.

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Space

Stranded Chinese astronauts return home from space station mission

Astronauts return from Tiangong space station aboard new crew’s spacecraft after suspected debris strikes vessel and delays launch.

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Chen Dong, the commander of the Shenzhou-20 crew, waves after the crew’s return on Friday afternoon. Photo: Xinhua
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China’s chief space contractor readies plans for tourism programme

A state-owned giant is expected to unveil a space tourism package this week, with suborbital trips priced lower than US rivals SpaceX and Blue Origin.

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China Future Tech briefing

Aerospace | Musk’s SpaceX faces China threat in reusable rocket race

At least nine reusable rocket projects are nearing maiden flights in China, posing a potential threat to Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s grip on the commercial satellite launch market.

US-China relations

From reusable rockets to deep-sea dives: how China closes tech gap on the West

China sees outer space and the polar regions as ‘strategic new frontiers’ vital to its future security – and is investing accordingly.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Science

China joins space factory race with breakthrough in inflatable module technology

Those who master ‘manufacture in space will gain the initiative in future space economic development’, according to Institute of Mechanics.

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Developers say China’s “in-orbit factory” is taking shape following a technological breakthrough in the form of an inflatable, reconfigurable space module. Photo: Handout
Science

China counts down to Long March-10 test flights in race back to the moon

Researchers to put rocket through its paces as country aims for 2030 crewed lunar landing.

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Science

Chinese astronauts enjoy handover BBQ in world first on board space station

Replacement crew brings expanded food choices, including freshly baked chicken wings and steak, on latest mission.

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Science

China postpones astronauts’ return from space after suspected debris strikes

Shenzhou-20 trio delayed as authorities carry out an impact analysis and risk assessment.

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The crew of the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 pictured together on board the Tiangong space station on November 1. Photo: Xinhua
China technology

Video | China launches Shenzhou-21 with lab mice on board

The six-month mission will include experiments involving laboratory mice for the first time that will permanently live in the Tiangong space station.

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China technology

China expands frontiers in space, deep sea, poles amid fierce geopolitical race

From deep in the Arctic Ocean to outer space and cyberspace, Beijing’s focus on technological advancements is reshaping the global strategic balance.

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Science

China-led moon mission’s water probe will be ‘first for humanity’: space agency

Seven international partners deliver experiments for Chang’e-7 as authorities report smooth progress towards 2026 launch.

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